Wood wins big contracts in Brazil and Middle East

Wood Group HQ, Aberdeen

John Wood Group, the Aberdeen-based global engineering and consulting giant, has secured an $80 million contract extension with Equinor to deliver maintenance and modification solutions to its Peregrino offshore assets off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The two-year extension builds on a long-term and global partnership with Equinor, where Wood supports operations in the United Kingdom, Norway and Brazil.

“Wood will continue to provide maintenance solutions to optimise the Peregrino wellhead platforms and floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, delivering engineering, prefabrication and outfitting, offshore installation, commissioning and Turnaround (TAR) support,” said Wood.

Shawn Combden, Wood’s President of Operations, Americas, said: “This extension reaffirms our client’s confidence in our ability to consistently meet and exceed expectations in brownfield engineering project delivery.

“The maintenance and upgrade modifications delivered by our team will extend the life of these assets, critical to energy security.”

The reimbursable contract is supported by 500 employees. During the next maintenance campaign scheduled to start in May 2024, the team will be based on an offshore flotel to increase productivity levels.

Hugues Corrignan, Wood’s Country Manager for Brazil, states: “Our eight-year relationship with Equinor in Brazil is built on a well-established track record of asset knowledge and mutual trust.

“Our commitment to excellence, relentless focus on safe operations and unwavering dedication to understanding our client’s evolving needs have been critical to securing this win.”

Wood has also announced “excellent growth” in the Middle East region where it secured $850 million in contract wins in 2023.

Wood said it works across the Middle East region “to unlock conventional and low carbon energy supply, decarbonise and optimise energy production and processing, and extend onshore and offshore asset life in key locations” including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.

“In 2023, the company was involved in groundbreaking projects across the region including the development of a CO2 transportation and storage network that will increase the current global capacity of CO2 storage by approximately 25%, as well as feasibility studies and preliminary front end engineering design for both carbon capture and storage (CCS) and low-carbon hydrogen projects,” said Wood.

“In addition, Wood continues to support brownfield asset upgrades and expansions alongside greenfield developments to optimise operations for petrochemicals and gas producers.

“In Iraq, Wood was recently awarded a contract extension with a long-term client to continue delivering front end engineering design (FEED), procurement and EPC contract management solutions, critical to safe and efficient operations.

“Wood is also supporting a significant project to reduce emissions in the country by more than 10 million tons of carbon per year through the elimination of flaring.

“Contract awards elsewhere in the region include a long term multi-million-dollar engineering and procurement services contract in Qatar and complex pre-FEED and FEED services for both onshore and offshore clients in the UAE.”

Wood CEO Ken Gilmartin said: “We are thrilled to see continued growth across our Middle East business, where we have supported the energy industry for more than eight decades.

“Wood remains committed to delivering exceptional value for our clients in the region and developing in-country talent.

“Our recent successes are testament to the hard work and dedication of our remarkable team and our unwavering commitment to providing solutions that contribute to a low carbon future.”

Due to Wood’s success in the region and to support further growth, the company recently recruited over 700 new employees and is currently recruiting 500 roles with more expected throughout 2024.

In line with Wood’s commitment to developing local engineering talent, the company’s four-year engineering Basrah Graduate Scheme continues to grow and has supported more than 60 University of Basrah graduates since 2016.

Wood operates in about 60 countries, employing around 35,000 people.